Clasp for garters or the like.



PATENTED JUNE 9,1903.

0. M. SIMPSON. v CLASP FOR GARTER'S OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ4, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Rs no, mmuumn" w or fastening; and Fig. 4 is a sectional View UNITEDSTATES.

Patented June 9, 1903.

P TENT iOrFicn.

OASSIUS M. SIMPSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO;

CLASP FOR GARTERS OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 730,710, dated June 9,1903.

Application filed August 4,

To (0Z6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CASSIUS M. SIMPsoN,'a

citizen of the United States of America,'and aresident of Cincinnati, inthe county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Clasps for Garters or the Like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relatesto certain improvements in clasps or fasteningssuch as'are especially designed for use in connection withhose-supporters, garters, and the like; and the object of the inventionis to provide a clasp or fastening of an improved and simplifiedconstruction and of a light, durable, and inarrangement of the severalparts of the improved clasp or fastening, whereby certainimportantadvantages are attained and the device is made simpler, cheaper, andotherwise better adapted and more convenient for use than various otherforms of clasps or fastenings heretofore employed, all as will behereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate my improvements,Figure 1 is an elevation showing aclasp or fastening embodying myinvention and applied for use as a clasp for garters andhose-supporters; and Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing theheaded stud forming a portion of the improved clasp or fastening intransverse section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing one of the partsor members of the improved clasp taken axially through the headed studcarried by the member shown in Fig. 3, the plane of the section beingindicated byline an in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken throughthe headed stud in a plane at right angles to the plane of the sectionin Fig. 4 as indicated by the line b b in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an underside view showing the body portion of the headed stud detached, and Fig.7 is a View showing the elastic spring employed for hold- 1902. SerialNo. 118,358. (No model.)

ing the two parts or members of the improved clasp or fastening againstaccidental disengagement one from the other and also for preventing thegoods held between the parts or members from slipping from between them.

As shown in the views, 1 indicates a frame or slide on which ispivotally held one member or part of the improved clasp or fastening,this part or member 2 being herein shown in the form of an elongatedopen loop, one end portion 3 of which is made ina reduced width, so thatthe opening of this part 2 is made in the nature of a keyhole-slot. Theframe 1 is formed with slits or openings in a well-known way, and 4designates a tape or web held to said frame in said slits and having anend portion 5 extended beyond the frame past the open partor member 2and engaged with slits or openings in a second frame 6, having at itscentral part a smooth-surfaced portion 7, whereon is carried a headedstud forming the other part ormember of the improved clasp or fasteningand indicated as a whole at 8 on the drawings. The length of theextended portion 5 of the tape or webbing 4 is such that the member 8iscaused to stand when such extended portion 5 is drawn out in line withthe extremity of the reduced end portion 3 of the member or part 2.

So far as described the device is of a wellknown kind commonlyin use inconnection with garters and hose-supporters, and it will also be obviousthat *the clasp or fastening constructed according to my inventionalsuch use is'capableof empl'oymentin connecthough herein shown asapplied especially for tion with other devices, and for this reason I orthe like, being applied over the enlargement 10, as shown in thesectional views, Figs. 4 and 5. The lower end of the shank Qis formedwith a stem 12 of reduced and rectangular cross-section, as indicatedinFig.

6, and said stem is adapted to be extended down through a rectangularopening formed in the central smooth-surfaced portion 7 of the frame 6,as shown in Fig. 5, for holding the part or member 8 in position uponsaid frame, the said reduced stem being of alength sufiicient to projectbeneath the frame 6, as shown in Fig. 5. When the stem has been passedthrough the frame 6, a part of the projecting lower end of the stem maybe cut off, care being taken to leave a sufficient extent of projectionof said stem to permit the stem to be riveted upon the under side of theframe, as indicated at 13 in Figs. 3 and 4, such riveting serving tosecure the part or member 8 firmly in place upon the frame 6. 12 isherein shown as having an elongated rectangular form in cross-section;but this is not absolutely essential to my invention, v

is held an elastic sheath formed of a spring 14 of thin sheet metal, thecentral part of which is formed with an extension 16, bent over at rightangles to the plane in which the body portion of said spring extends,the extension 16 being arranged flush upon the smooth central portion 7of the frame 6 and being formed with an opening 17 of rectangular form,through which the fiat-sided stem 12 of the shank 9 is passed and inwhich said stem fits in such a Way as to hold the spring securelyagainst turning movement upon the the shank. The body portion of thespring 14 is formed with laterally-directed Wings or end portions 15 15,which are bent or curved concentrically with the shank 9, extendingaround opposite sides thereof and being spaced away from said shanksufficiently to provide an annulus between the shank and spring 14 topermit the two end portions or wings 15 15 to play toward each other toa slight extent when the two parts of the clasp are engaged with eachother, this play being sufficient to compensate for diiferentthicknesses of goods held between the two members. The extremities ofthe wings 15 of spring 14 are also slightly spaced to permit such play.

In assembling the parts of the clasp care should be taken that thecentral portion of spring 14, at which it is secured to frame 6 by itsextension 16, should be in position opposite the extremity of the endportion 3 of member 2 when the parts of the clasp are interengaged, andwhen said parts are so engaged the wings 15 at opposite sides of theshank 9, being capable of elastic movement toward each other, will standin position for frictional engagement on the inner sides of the reducedend portion of the open loop 2 and will serve by such engagement to holdthe members against accidental disengage- The stem ment. Spring 14 beingheld against turning by reason of the fitting of the fiat-sided stem 12in openingv 17 of its extension and in the opening in frame 6, it willbe seen that the wings 15 of the spring are maintained in position forelastic engagement with the sides of member 2. Since spring 14 is bentto a circular form, member 2 will be perfectly free for turning movementthereon.

The frictional means for preventing accidental disengagement of theparts of the clasp or fastening is of an extremely simple andinexpensive nature and is especially well adapted for use by reason ofits strength and durability, spring 14 being capable of being givensufiicient strength and stifiness to enable it to withstand all strainswhich may ordinarily be put upon it Without unduly increasing the sizeor weight of the device. Said spring, by reason of its elasticity andthe presence of the annulus between it and the shank 9, also insures theproper gripping of a garment, such as a stocking, between the two partsof the clasp and prevents damage to such garments and also compensatesfor different thicknessesof the goods so held between the parts ormembers of the clasp. 'It will also be obvious from the abovedescription of my improvements that the device is capable of somemodification without material departure from the principles and spiritof the invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of the several partsof the device as herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-.

1. A clasp or fastening comprising a member having an opening and aheaded stud adapted for engagement in said opening and having a shankand elastic devices extended at opposite sides of said shank with anintervening annulus and adapted for expansive frictional engagement withthe sides of the opening in the first-named member, substantially as setforth.

2. A clasp or fastening comprising a member having an opening and aheaded stud adapted for engagement in said opening and having a shankand an elastic means extended around and spaced away from the sides ofsaid shank for expansive frictional engagement with the sides of theopening in the first-named member and provided with de vices for holdingsaid elastic means against turning movement, substantially as set forth.

3. A clasp or fastening comprising a member having an opening and aheaded stud adapted for engagement in said opening and comprising ashank and a spring extended around the shank and spaced away therefromand having side portions adapted for engagement with the opening in thefirst-named member, substantially as set forth.

4. A clasp or fastening comprising a mem her having an opening and aheaded stud ITO adapted for engagement in said opening and formed of ashank and a spring having an extension connected to the shank and havingend portions extended around the sides of the shank for engagement withthe sides of the opening in the first-named member, substantially as setforth.

5. A clasp or fastening comprising a member having an opening and aheaded stud adapted for engagement in said opening and formed of a shankhaving a fiat-sided portion and a spring having a central extensionformed with an openin gin which the flat-sided portion of the shank isfittedand having end portions extended around the sides of the shank andadapted for engagement with the sides of the opening in the first-namedmember, substantially as set forth.

6. In a clasp or fastening, the combination CASSIUS M. SIMPSON.

VVitnosses:

JOHN ELIAS JONES, DANIEL HALEY.

